As a scientist, it is critical to be a clear communicator and educator. This is why I prioritize honing my communication skills and using my interest in science to inform my teaching pedagogy.
During my PhD work, I took an opportunity to learn more about teaching philosophies as a “Instructional Technology Fellow” (ITF) at Macaulay Honors College of the City University of New York. As an ITF, I help align the digital era with thoughtful teaching for faculty and students.
I have a learning centered teaching philosophy, where I balance teacher-centered lectures and active discovery-based student learning. However, every teaching method needs to reflect what is best for the students, the specific school, and their environment.
Some examples of my learning-centered pedagogy can be seen in my class assignments:
- Websites Students produced a website based on independent research on NYC government policies. Students collected their ideas and formed a proposal report for the 2017 NYC Mayoral candidates. I wanted students to understand the importance of data-driven research, therefore, I taught them how to collect data and transform into clear visualizations. The link below is the website they produced:
https://eportfolios.macaulay.cuny.edu/nycfuture/
- Art meets Chemistry I designed an assignment that combines the creative process of art and science. This was geared for a college freshman level honors seminar. Experimental process, regardless of the discipline, requires similar critical thinking tools; therefore, students were asked to create paint produced from natural products (i.e., don’t buy anything at an art store). Students were encouraged to use a research-driven experimental approach, which includes documenting their process. Final products, along with their process, where shared as an oral presentation in class and at the Macaulay Honors STEAM festival.
- Youtube lecture In my college sophomore level microbiology lab, we encountered bad weather, so I recorded my lecture and share on Youtube for my students using iMovie. I would like to continue making more videos for students. Video lectures make difficult topics more accessible for all students, which I value. See the video below:
